William and Kate score big for charity with L.A. visit

CALGARY: Prince William and his wife, Catherine Middleton, duchess of Cambridge, pose for a photo prior to their departure from Calgary, Alberta. (Photo: ZUMA Press)

Their visit to America may last less than three days, but Prince William and Kate Middleton are making the most of their time in Los Angeles to promote the arts and raise big cash for charity.

The royal couple, on the last leg of their 11-day North American tour, touched down into the bustling L.A. scene Friday evening after a week in Canada. To kick off the fundraising, William brought a bit of British sport to the scene by participating in a charity polo match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

The match was expected to raise almost $5 million for Prince William and Prince Harry’s foundation — which supports various humanitarian and environmental causes. Players eager to go up against William reportedly paid as much as $50,000 each. Those wanting to play with him paid twice that. Naturally, the prince's team ended up winning, with William personally scoring four goals and Kate presenting a 15-pound silver trophy to him. The crowd as you would guess, went wild.

Saturday evening featured a black tie event for The British Academy of Film and Television Arts with a guest list that included the likes of Tom Hanks, Barbara Streisand, Jennifer Lopez, Quentin Tarantino, Nicole Kidman and others. Tables at the affair were reportedly $25,000 a piece, but it’s unclear if that cash will go to any specific charity as the main purpose of the evening was to spotlight up-and-coming actors in the British film industry.

This morning (Sunday, July 10) is the big event for anyone with an eye toward conservation, as an exclusive brunch will be held at the home of billionaire Hollywood producer and New York Giants football team owner Steve Tisch. That small gathering will include some very deep pockets and will benefit exclusively the Tusk Trust, a conservation charity that works to protect African wildlife. According to a source quoted by the U.K. Daily Mail, a minimum fee to attend is $100,000 — with one person reportedly giving $500,000 for the privilege.

Said William, in becoming a patron for the organization, "Such groundbreaking conservation work aims to preserve the balance between local people and wildlife, and provides a framework of real hope for the future."

Finally, in an effort to visit with those less fortunate, William and Kate will visit L.A.'s Skid Row district — considered the homeless capital of the United States. The couple will visit Inner-City Arts, a nonprofit academy that provides children from poverty-stricken neighborhoods free classes in the visual and performing arts.

“This is what’s going on outside their castle. They’re going to get a taste of what life is like for us,” Jessica Cornejo, who will perform for the couple in a dance troupe at the event, told the AP. “It’s the best way to end that royal trip.”

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